2007 Audi S8

COUNTERPOINT

CSABA CSEREI'm not a fan of the sporting variant of a big luxury sedan because the muscular version's overt sounds and stiffer suspension action clash with the car's inherent sybaritic comfort and luxury. The Audi S8, however, delivers substantially more usable grip than the similarly powerful A8L W-12 without a noticeably harsher ride. And although it's no quicker than the W-12, neither is it much noisier except at full throttle, where the sound of the V-10 provides a welcome soundtrack. The S8 is a sporting luxury sedan at peace with itself.

MARK GILLIESThe S8 came into our hands around the same time as an S6, which uses essentially the same V-10 engine. Although I loved the S8's kick-ass styling and sublime interior - who couldn't be impressed by the pop-up speakers on the dashboard, part of a $6300 (!) audio package? - the S8 felt big and cumbersome on the street. The S6 isn't that much smaller than the S8, yet it felt way more urgent, both in a straight line and around corners. I kept thinking that I'd rather have a regular A8 swaddled in all the luxury Audi offers, which, it turns out, can easily add up to $25,000 worth of goodies.